Post partum Care
I have found that there are a lot of people that think that "post partum" is synonymous with post partum depression. It is not! "Post partum" is referring to the time after you deliver your baby. This phase/period lasts a year, but you will experience most changes in the first 6 weeks after you give birth.
Before you go home from the hospital, your nurse will go over what you can expect when you get home and over the first weeks with your new baby. You will also receive hand outs that you can take home to refer to. Also, you have your doctor or midwife's office to call on for questions or concerns after you leave the hospital.
Turn to page 62 in the manual. (Read) See how the nurse in the photo is pressing on the patient's belly? She is feeling for the top of the uterus. This is done frequently at first, in fact every 15 minutes in the first hour after delivery. Ask your nurse to show you what to do, so that you can do it. Keeping the uterus firm, helps keep your bleeding down. Your uterus will contract in efforts to get back to normal size, but rubbing on the top of the uterus, called the fundus, helps the uterus too. You may also notice that while you breastfeed, you feel some contractions or afterpains, as they are sometimes called. This is because your body excretes a hormone called oxytocin as you breastfeed which causes the uterus to contract.
Tenderness in your perineal and vaginal area is common after birth, refer to the tips on page 62 to help you.
Other discomforts after birth may be hemorrhoids, constipation, and tender breasts. You will be sent home with information on these common discomforts and how to alleviate them.
Keep in mind that your doctor of midwife will send you home with prescriptions. The Motrin/Ibuprofen is helpful with swelling, so taking it as directed can really help with perineal tenderness as well as afterpains or cramping.
Once you get home, there is no longer any staff to help you. It is important to remember that this is a time of great change and adjustment. Now is not the time to focus on entertaining, house work, and other demands, now is the time to focus on being a new mommy/and daddy. This is a time to breastfeed, to get to know your baby, to play with her, to hold her, and meet her needs. You cannot spoil a newborn baby. Because of these demands, you may be exhausted, so try to take care of yourself. Eat well, drink plenty of fluids, nap when you baby naps, and accept help when offered. In fact, make a list of stuff you could use help with and delegate those tasks, so that you can sit and rock your baby or get in a much needed nap.
Turn to page 64-65 and read this together. (READ)
Lastly, watch the video on Post partum emotions, and read the text on page 63. PPD (Post Partum Depression) is real and treatable. Do not be afraid to seek help, even before your 6 week check up! (WATCH and READ)
Many women feel overwhelmed after learning the information in this unit. Know that while this is going on, you will have your baby as a lovely distraction. You will be falling in love with her and this minimizes your physical discomfort.
Be sure to follow any instructions that your health care provider or nurse gives you as you are released from the hospital.
Assignment for Unit 10:
1. How common is PPD?
2. How long can you expect to bleed after you have your baby?
3. Be thinking what your plan is for birth control after you have your baby- talk to your doctor or Midwife.
4. E-mail me when you are finished with this last unit!
